Writers! Do you write in Word?

[CTyankee]

My daughter, who is my editor, tells me I should write in Googledocs. I am only comfortable writing in Word. I learned writing in Word on the computer. I hate Googledocs but she says it's so great for the editing process. I am old and learned writing on the computer way back in time. I have a new editor and he hates googledocs and likes Word (and he is a young guy, only 29).

What do you write in?

[The Blue Flower]

1. Author and editor here

I've never tried Googledocs. Have used Word for decades and am very content with its editing functionality. What's supposed to be better about Googledocs?

[CTyankee]

5. I dunno. She just said she liked it when others are editing as you are writing.

[Ocelot II]

22. It works well for group projects where people are editing documents

because the edits appear in a separate column and you can highlight things. But if you don't need to edit or be edited that way you don't really need it. I am using it in a foreign language class I'm taking where we have to send in written assignments so the instructor can evaluate and correct them, and then show the results by screen sharing on Zoom, for discussion. It works great for that.

[CTyankee]

23. None of this adds up to a reason to use it in my case. Or I don't see it.

[Ocelot II]

24. I don't either. If you're just writing, stick to Word.

Actually, even for my class assignments I write them in Word then just paste them into Google Docs so I can send them to the instructor and the class. I probably wouldn't bother with it otherwise.

[relayerbob]

2. Word

As bad as Microsoft can sometimes be, I don't trust Google. At all. Was forced to use gmail for a while, for a particular project, and am glad to get out of there in one piece.

I've tried LibreOffice and others. Libre is very much like Word, compatible with it, and open-sourced, so if you want to find an alternative, that's a good place to start.

[Earth-shine]

3. I use MS-Word from Office 2010. I have a state-of-art workstation, but no need for new software.

I am very interested in using chatbot and the other AIs for future writing projects.

To me, it's just the next evolution in writing tools, such as word processors, spell checkers, grammar tools, and voice recognition.

Supposedly, the next version of MS-Office will incorporate AI writing tools.

I've been a technical writer and teacher since the mid-80s.

[CTyankee]

9. I am an art historian. My writing is heavy on art display so lots of images...could that have

something to do with it?

[Earth-shine]

11. Word is very good for laying out images and wrapping text around them.

Sometimes it can be a bit quirky, especially when images overlap, but I find it all works out.

[CTyankee]

21. Yes! We love wrapping text around images. It's perfect for art books.

[Ocelot II]

4. I've only used Google docs a few times, but it seems to have some editing functions

that don't exist in Word. It allows other people to easily edit a document if you share it with them, so if that's something you need or want, it's kind of handy. The basic word processing operations aren't much different from Word. But if you like and are used to Word, stick with it.

[rsdsharp]

6. I've been using some form of Word since I got my first real computer

and got rid of Adam Colecovision in 1985. My office used it beginning in about 1986, when I was still a clerk. Courts required us to submit e-docs (and documents on floppy disc back in the day) in Word. I’m not interested in learning a new platform at this stage of my life.

[CrispyQ]

7. I write in Word.

Most of my writer friends use Scrivener.

If you are sharing word processing docs among users of different word processors, such as Word vs GoogleDocs, save your file as an RTF file vs a DOCX file. They should do the same.

[FalloutShelter]

8. Author here.

I write in word. Currently working across several projects, all in word. My editor likes word also.
Never tried Google Docs., but my IT pro niece is always on me to switch.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

10. Word user since the early '90's (WordPerfect before that, LOL!). I try to avoid Google anything.

[Wicked Blue]

12. Apache Open Office

It's free and I love it.

[malthaussen]

30. Which is basically Word by another name. :)

I use it myself. "Free" attracts my attention every time.

-- Mal

[Goonch]

13. Google Docs' voice-to-text feature is getting major upgrades.

https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/work-life/voice-to-text-on-google-docs-is-getting-a-major-upgrade-heres-how-to-use-it/

[Tetrachloride]

14. In my special case, I use Apple Pages. Not recommended for serious writers.

I find it cumbersome for long documents. No interconnection between other documents.

Whatever makes the writer happy, I am for it.

[Ocelot II]

17. Pages has some nice features; in some ways it's more flexible than Word

but I wouldn't want to write a whole book with it.

If you really want to experience word processing hell, try structured Framemaker. In a former job I had to edit aircraft flight manuals using it and I wanted to gouge my eyes out.

[Tetrachloride]

18. Your words reminded me of Sperry Univac

As for Pages, I use “Contemporary Resume” for short good looking documents and lists, long or short.

[virgdem]

15. I use Word for my resume service business.

I started out in WordPerfect, but found that it was quickly being replaced by Word.

[pandr32]

16. I am happy with Word.

Why change what isn't broken?

[gibraltar72]

19. Word!

[Dale in Laurel MD]

20. I use Word for my own writing.

At work I have to use Google Docs -- it's been adopted as the house standard. It has some nice features, but I don't like it as well. For one thing, it's easier to create a major mess accidentally, and harder to fix it.

[ironflange]

25. EMACS

Just kidding, I'm not even a writer.

[hvn_nbr_2]

40. OMG! You must be as old as me. EMACS is the only text editor...

that can calculate phases of the moon in 20 different calendar systems.

[dclarston13]

26. Concepts start on a legal pad

The rest go on with Word. Its a good tool.

[CTyankee]

27. I have several smaller pads of paper around the house to jot down my brilliant thoughts.

Pens everywhere there is a pad. It makes for a little bit of litter. But it does help; I can and do use these thrilling ideas.

[hunter]

28. Use Word if that's what you are familiar with.

Many people use Google Docs for collaboration. Since it's browser based it generally works on most modern computers be they Microsoft, Apple, or Chromebooks.

The kids in our local high schools get Chromebooks if they don't have or don't want to use their own laptops for schoolwork. (Google's plot to take over the world!)

I don't use Apple or Microsoft products unless someone is paying me. I'm a Linux guy. The last version of Microsoft Windows I used on my personal computers was 98SE.

Libre Office is free and its comparability with Word is good enough for most of what I do.

Mostly I use markdown for my personal writing. That works on any computer with a text editor. I pour my ideas into a plain text file and worry about the exact formatting later. That's been my method since the 'seventies and it's saved my ass a few times as certain word processors and even entire computer systems have gone extinct.

But I'm not making art books like you are.

[hvn_nbr_2]

29. Framemaker

It's what I used for years as a technical writer in Silicon Valley. I never got good with Word and have only recently used Googledocs at all. Framemaker is great for absurdly long and complicated geeky docs--stuff like 300-page-long tables and such! I don't even know for sure if Adobe still makes it; I'm using an old version about 12-13 years old.

[Ocelot II]

37. Framemaker, at least the structured version, is an insanely complicated horror show.

I worked on aircraft manuals in structured Framemaker and it made my life miserable.

[hvn_nbr_2]

39. Agree. I never had to use structured Frame.

I started with it about 1989 on, I think Frame 3.0, when it was still Frame Technology, not yet bought by Adobe. The last couple versions I worked with had started to get a bit overbearingly complicated so it's probably worse by now. My version is about 12 years old. I've been surprised that it still works with newer Windows.

[malthaussen]

31. Apache Open Office, which basically replicates Word.

But it's free. It also has tools for spreadsheets, database management, etc. All pretty much replicating pricey Microsoft products.

-- Mal

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

32. LibreOffice. Like MS Office, but free.

You can write in LibreOffice, exchange document files with your (new) editor using MS Word.

And it's free.

Like Office, it has text editing, spreadsheets, presentations, dunno about a substitute for MS Outlook.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

[mainer]

33. 2 dozen novels written on Word

I like that I don't have to be online. Sometimes editors want to edit on Googledocs, and I find that such a pain.

[CTyankee]

34. I feel that it is not my job. And I say so. I spend the time and money to do research on art history

and bring beautiful works of art to people who may not know of their power and beauty. That is my job.

[elleng]

35. Hey, 'yank! Gotta laugh,

LEARNED to write on computer in WordPerfect! Anyone REMEMBER it????

[CTyankee]

38. Yep. I did and I remember it well!

[nolabear]

36. If you don't you may have to convert before submitting work.

Publications largely want manuscripts in .doc or .docx

I switched to a MacBook some years ago and never could be happy with Pages so downloaded Word right away.